| |
 |
Should You Get An Electrical Inspection?
|
 |
You know that when buying a home, a property
inspection is vital. But what about an electrical
inspection?
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation
International, a separate and comprehensive
electrical inspection is necessary in many home
purchases. The Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that promotes electrical safety.
They recommend that any home that is over 40 years
old, has had major renovation or major appliances
added over 10 years ago or is changing owners
receive an electrical inspection.
Your standard home inspection will inspect the
property for structural defects, as well as
plumbing, electrical and mechanical problems. You
should always have a property inspected before
closing. It saves you from discovering costly
surprises after your name is on the deed.
But keep in mind that the property inspection is a
surface inspection. Light switches will be flipped.
Wiring in the attic will be looked at. But you
should have someone look a little bit further.
What does your electrical inspection mean? It
means that someone has checked for loose-fitting
outlets, checked the fuse boxes and circuit
breakers. Everything electrical is tested and
double-checked.
Why should you bother? Electricity is a powerful
force that leads to another powerful force -- fire.
There are more than 165,000 electrical-related home
fires in any given year. On average, 900 people
loose their lives to these fires each year.
Think about it, when was the last time you checked
your electric system? Do you check for frayed or
overheated cords? Do you feel your outlets for heat?
Do you take care of overloaded circuits? Do you put
too high of wattage light bulbs into your lights?
Even if you answered yes, the chances are slim that
the seller would. For example, in our recent
purchase, a major wiring problem skipped both our
and our inspector's attention. If we had an
electrical inspection, the problem would have been
caught.
Just like a property inspection, join the
electrician on the tour of your property. Ask
questions and have him explain what he is checking
and why. The information can help you in the
maintenance of your home's electrical system. For
example, how many of us know why a breaker keeps
flipping and what we should do about it.
If you plan on making changes to the home, such as
adding a hot tub or other major appliance, talk
about it with the inspector. He or she could offer
helpful advice and tips.
Keep in mind that electricity isn't something to
play around with. You shouldn't use 100 watt bulbs
in a 40 watt fixture. Don't run extension cords
heavily all over your home. Check your smoke
detectors and replace their batteries regularly.
Have your home inspected and prevent any problems
before they have a chance to catch a spark.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lukac
If you are looking for an electrician in Tennessee, then please call us today at
1-888-884-6299 or complete our
online service request form.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
